The CarThe Car
Director: Elliot Silverstein
Cast: James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley
Shout! Factory
December 15, 2015
Reviewed by Brian M. Sammons

Before Christine, but after Killdozer, there was the killer car flick simply known as The Car. Made in 1977 and staring James Brolin before he went crazy in The Amityville Horror, this supernatural, automotive thriller is mostly forgotten today by all but the most diehard horror fans. Thankfully, the folks over at Scream Factory appear to be diehard horror fans themselves, and so they have resurrected this forgotten flick and given it the HD Blu-ray treatment. Is this one worth the ride, or should it be put up on cinder blocks in the yard and allowed to rust? Well buckle up and let’s take The Car out for a spin.

The residents of a small desert town become the targets of gnarly black car like no other. Not only does it have a wicked, menacing, and unique look, but it very well could be the car from hell. The assaulting automobile likes to run bicycling teenagers off of bridges, flatten hitchhikers, and even run over the local sheriff. It’s up to Chief Deputy Wade Parent (James Brolin) to stop the killer car before the whole town falls under its deadly wheels. So the car continues its deadly rampage, witnesses keep saying that there is no driver behind the wheel, no one is safe, not even children, unless they are on consecrated ground, where the car won’t go. See, I told you the car was from hell.

The Car is an effective thriller that was one of the earliest deadly automobile movies, so some tropes that might seem cliché now weren’t so when this film was made. The flick also delivers some real chills and honest surprises from time to time that I won’t give away here. One such wild turn I had forgotten about over the decades from the last time I saw the movie really smacked me upside the head and left me wondering how many movies today would be so ballsy to do the same thing. The acting by all involved ranges from competent to good, with Brolin being the standout. The direction is solid, and the real star of the show, the car itself, is cool-looking and memorable as all hell. Ha, see what I did there? So if you are looking for a fun and sometimes frightening thrill ride, this car will give you that. But what about the extras on the new Blu-ray from the always awesome Scream Factory – are they worth revving your engines over?

For a nearly 40-year-old movie that sadly far too many have forgotten about, there is a bit of love on display here. There is an interview with director Elliott Silverstein that’s just over 9 minutes, another interview is with actress Geraldine Keams that’s 12 minutes long and there’s a third interview with actress Melody Thomas Scott that’s also about 12 minutes long. Then the usual trailer, TV spot, radio spots, and a stills gallery brings things roaring over the finish line.

I love The Car. It’s kind of scary, kind of cool, and an all-around enjoyable ride. It’s not technically the one that started them all, but if you have ever seen Killdozer then you know that it basically is. While there are other fine killer car flicks, none have yet to surpass The Car. As such, I can highly recommend this old movie and its new release.

About Brian M. Sammons

Brian M. Sammons has penned stories that have appeared in the anthologies: Arkham Tales, Horrors Beyond, Monstrous, Dead but Dreaming 2, Horror for the Holidays, Deepest, Darkest Eden and others. He has edited the books; Cthulhu Unbound 3, Undead & Unbound, Eldritch Chrome, Edge of Sundown, Steampunk Cthulhu, Dark Rites of Cthulhu, Atomic Age Cthulhu, World War Cthulhu and Flesh Like Smoke. He is also the managing editor of Dark Regions Press’ Weird Fiction line. For more about this guy that neighbors describe as “such a nice, quiet man” you can check out his infrequently updated webpage here: http://brian_sammons.webs.com/ and follow him on Twitter @BrianMSammons.

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